SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCMURRAY VISIT AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TRIPOLI 000644

SIPDIS

STATE NEA/MAG FOR GAVITO, OES FOR SENSENEY; AMMAN FOR WHITLESLEY; HHS F
JANE
COURY;
CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDONE
NEA/RA FOR LAWSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP BTIO EAIR ECIN EFIS EINV ETTC OSCI SENV
TBIO, TP, LY
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCMURRAY VISIT AND
STATUS REPORT ON SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH LIBYA

REF: STATE 184185, TRIPOLI 476


1. Post warmly welcomes the visit of Assistant Secretary of
State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental
and Scientific Affairs McMurray. The following background
information is provided in anticipation of your visit to Tripoli
on November 11-13, 2006. Our scientific engagement program is
the most active segment of bilateral cooperation, with ongoing
work in biological life sciences, mechanical engineering, water
management, nuclear medicine, radioactive waste management and
other areas. As with all other delegations, the meeting
schedule has not been confirmed at this time. Typically,
schedule changes take place up until minutes before a meeting
commences. Post anticipates that you will have meetings the
evening of Saturday, November 11 with physicians at the Libyan
Board of Medical Specialities to discuss telemedicine and
sub-speciality training . The morning of Sunday, November 12,
we are trying to confirm a meeting with Ahmed Fitouri, the
Secretary of American Affairs at the General People's Committee

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for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (MFA
equivalent) . In addition, you tentatively have meetings
scheduled with Matouq Matouq, the Secretary of the General
People's Committee for Manpower, Training, and Employment and
Ahmed Shembesh, the Director of the Libyan National Center for
Standardization and Metrology. The afternoon of November 12,
there may be meetings at the Libyan General Water Authority, the
Libyan Environment Authority and the Libyan Renewable Energy
Center. Since the actual order of the schedule will vary
considerably, and as a follow up to the July 2006 agreement
signed by the U.S. and Libya concerning science and technology
cooperation, this cable follows the format of the signed
agreement, and the two should be read in tandem. You will be
briefed upon arrival with the latest version of the schedule.

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HEALTH
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See sub topics of Avian Influenza, African Center for Infectious
Disease Control, NAMRU-3, Bio-Ethics, and Libyan Board of
Medical Specialities.

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AVIAN INFLUENZA
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2. During the July 11-13 2006 visit of U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Alex Azar, an
agreement was signed with the General People's Committee for
Health and Environment (GPCHE) to participate in a cooperative
initiative for the development of public health and security,
with particular reference to public health incidents related to
influenza. Attached to this agreement was an offer by HHS to
provide the GPCHE a non-competitive grant in the amount of USD$1
Million to foster this cooperation through continued
partnerships in disease surveillance, preparedness and response
capabilities. The grant was authorized on August 29th 2006, and
filed with Health and Human Services. Jane Coury of HHS is
finalizing the contract and delivering the monies to the
Libyans, and will be returning to Libya on November 11-13 to
continue discussions with Dr. AbduHafid Abudher of the Libyan
(African) Center for Infectious Disease Control (ACIDC.) For
further details, please reference TRIPOLI 476, dated September
07, 2006. Key staff of the GPCHE: Secretary Dr. Mohamed Rashed,
Under Secretary Mr. Habeb Tamer.

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AFRICAN CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL:
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3. The scientific engagement program has facilitated
continuing contact with the African Center for Infectious
Disease Control (ACIDC) and its various offices and personnel.
The ACIDC is also the technical point of contact in implementing
the HHS Pandemic Influenza Assistance (USD 1 Million.) The
main point of contact within the ACIDC is Dr. Abduhafid Abudher.
Dr. Abudher also oversees the Tripoli tuberculosis screening
center, and Tripoli regional ACIDC center.

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NAMRU-3:
--------------

4. The Navy Medical Research Unit number 3 (NAMRU-3) based in
Cairo, Egypt has been instrumental in engaging the Libyan
Biological Life Sciences community. NAMRU-3 invited several
Libyan biological scientists to study pathogen handling
techniques, sampling techniques disease surveillance workshops
and other valuable technical and scientific training programs.
They are now routinely hosting teams of 2-5 Libyan scientists at
their Cairo based facility for courses runing ne-furweek.
In dition, the staff of NAMRU-3 have made themselves available
to assist in other medical / bio programs within Libya. Dr.
Bruce Boynton visited Tripoli as part of the Trilateral Steering
Committee Biological Subcommittee, and Dr. Mustafa Mansour, a
dual Egyptian/U.S. citizen has made himself available in the
proposal submission for the HHS Pandemic Influenza program. In
addition, Dr. Marie Ricciardone, a former NAMRU-3 scientist, and
current NP/PTR officer provides continuity and follow up for the
Libyan biological science community through the scientist
engagement program.

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BIO-ETHICS, BIO-SAFETY:
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5. The Trilateral Steering Committee Biological Subcommittee,
under the direction of Chair Catharine T. Crittenberger has been
the chief engine for engagement of the Libyan biological science
community. She routinely meets with the Libyan Permanent
Committee on Bioethics and Biosafety (LPCBB) and is currently
overseeing the Libyan establishment of a comprehensive Bioethics
/ Biosafety legislation. Her chief interlocutors are Dr.
Mohamed Sharif, Manager of the LPCBB, and Dr. Abdurrahman Tawil,
LPCBB board member.

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LIBYAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES / TELEMEDICINE:
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6. On August 30, 2006, ESTH officer and Dr. Mustafa Mansour of
the Navy Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU 3) in Cairo, visited the
Libyan Board of Medical Specialties to follow up on the July
visit of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy
Secretary Alex Azar. DepSec Azar and the Board agreed to

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collaborate, expand and improve Libya's medical board
certification process with particular attention to creating
recognized certifications in sub-specialties. The Libyans were
challenged by ESTH officer to determine what sort of cooperation
or workshop programs would benefit the board, and they responded
with two reasonable proposals. The first was a basic discussion
on the benefits, feasibility and technology associated with a
telemedicine program. The second proposal was for the Libyans
to fully fund a series of workshop visits by U.S. physicians,
capable of conducting sub-specialty focused workshops in a
continuing education capacity, with a secondary goal of
discussing and evaluating the board certification criteria in
the relevant sub-specialty during the visit. The Libyans have
offered to provide funding for visiting physicians from the U.S.
to both teach the local physician population, as well as
evaluate the board process and certification criteria of medical
sub-specialists. Meetings will be scheduled with Jane Coury
and/or A/S McMurray as appropriate during their November 11-13
visit to Tripoli.

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ENVIRONMENT / WATER
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See subtopics of Libyan Environment Authority, Desalination
Research, Nuclear Powered Desalination, Quality Monitoring and
Education.

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LIBYAN ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY:
--------------


8. During the July 2006 visit of Under Secretary of State for
Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, she and her
delegation met with Dr. Abul-Hakim Al-Waer, Secretary of the
Libyan Environment Authority (LEA). They discussed issues of
water, general environment, fisheries and standards and
metrology. In September 2006, Dr. Al-Waer approached the NDF
chemical weapons destruction assistance team and indicated an
interest/need for a program to destroy / incinerate / neutralize
several caustic and hazardous agents/wastes in accordance with
various environmental agreements to which they had either
signed, or aspire to sign. These items for destruction included
PCB's, transformer oil, pesticides left from Italian residents
in the 1930's, and hazardous medical wastes. Dr. Waer desires
to establish a solution to the immediate problem of existing
waste stockpiles, with additional consideration of disposing of
future waste. Dr. Waer said he had a budget of LD 57 Million in
2007 funds to address this disposal problem, (including PCB's,
Medical Waste and other hazardous wastes) and would be seeking
solutions in 2007/2008.

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WATER: DESALINATION RESEARCH:
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9. The National Bureau for Research and Development (NBRD),
headed by Dr. Ali Gashut oversees the Renewable Energy and Water
Desalination Research Center (REWDRC.) The REWDRC oversees
research into various desalination technologies including
filtration technologies membranes and reverse osmosis
technologies and staging various thermal and filtering
technologies. The center is currently focusing on the
production of 1200 m3/day desalination units for use in Libya's
rural communities not currently serviced by the Great Man Made
River Authority, with the goal of eventually making these
technologies the preferred method of water production/delivery.

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WATER: NUCLEAR POWERED DESAL UNITS:
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10. The means of powering desalination systems in Libya
remains an interesting debate within and out of Libya. Engineer
Matug Mohammed Matug, Secretary of the General People's
Committee for Manpower, Employment and Training, as well as
supervisor of the NBRD and REWDRC continues to request a nuclear
powered water desalination unit as a long term solution for
Libya's water requirements. Even though traditional combustion
and turbomachinery techniques for powering desalination
technologies are well within the grasp of the Libyans, and fuel
supplies are virtually unlimited, they continue to raise this
point as an area for potential cooperation with high-ranking
U.S. delegations. Internally there is some debate about this
method as well, in that the Libyan leadership does not want
Libya to be the pioneer of this technology. Libya wants to see
another country prove the concept's feasibility before it
invests in the technology.

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WATER: QUALITY MONITORING:
--------------


11. U.S. Specialists in water quality have been engaging the
Libyans via the Libyan General Water Authority (GWA) and the
NBRD water quality laboratories. These two entities oversee
water quality testing at central laboratories with sampling
sites spread throughout Libya. The current lab for the GWA is
not well equipped, and one of the lead researchers recently
deceased. Experts from Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and
Sandia National Labs recently visited both lab facilities and
are engaging in cooperation projects. The NBRD is building a
new water quality laboratory, and the LLNL and Sandia Labs
representatives are providing assistance in planning and
construction of the facility.

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WATER: EDUCATION:
--------------


12. Post is developing a "Water Capacity Building Study Tour"
through the voluntary visitor program in cooperation with Dr.
Ricciardone at Embassy Cairo and NEA/RA. The program is
tentatively scheduled for February 2007. There are both
environmental science and geology programs available at Al-Fateh
University, and graduate programs in environment and water
science available through the Academy for Graduate Studies
(AGS). Dr. Saad Al-Ghariani, a former UC Davis student, and
Staff Member of the AGS is a cooperative interlocutor concerning
the state of Environmental and Water education, and is
frequently available to discuss water and water policy with
visiting delegations.

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WATER: WHERE THE U.S. HAS NOT ENGAGED:
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13. The many fact finding and technical delegations that have
visited Libya have understandably been involved in programs
focused primarily on enhanced engagement with Libyan scientists
from nuclear, chemical and biological backgrounds. Other
entities within Libya that have a focus on water and water
legislation have not been as actively engaged such as the
General People's Committee for Agriculture, Animals and Water
Resources (GPCA),and the Great Man Made River Authority
(GMMRA). Programming is not currently underway with the GMMRA,
primarily as it is a well-funded and fairly self-sufficient
entity. The GMMRA positions and input will become increasingly
important, however, as Libya creeps toward a unified water
policy. The GMMRA is naturally less interested in desalination
technology than pumping from existing aquifers, but should be
brought to the table to discuss Libya's larger strategy. The
GPCA has not been engaged primarily because they are viewed as a
customer or consumer. Again, as a unified policy on water
management becomes a reality, the largest users/consumers are
going to need to provide input.

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COMMERCIAL/TRADE and TRANSPORTATION:
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See subtopics of updated trade export restrictions, Boeing
Commercial Advocacy, Civil Aviation, and Conferences.

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UPDATED TRADE EXPORT RESTRICTIONS:
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14. The U.S. Department of Commerce published an amendment to
the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that apply to Libya.
This change removed the requirement for a license to export or
re-export items controlled for anti-terrorism (AT) reasons.
With the change, items such as most computers, software,
telecommunications equipment and vehicles can be exported to
Libya without a Commerce export license. The BIS team addressed
questions about the EAR change, which put Libya on a par with
most US export destinations, noting that many of the commodities
being checked would no longer require licenses for export and
re-export to Libya.

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BOEING COMMERCIAL ADVOCACY
--------------


15. Dr. David Sampson, Deputy Secretary for U.S. Department of
Commerce visited the Libyan General People's Committee for
Economy Trade and Investment (GPCETI) and discussed economic
policy and trade issues. Among the issues discussed were the
September 2006 restructuring of export restrictions to Libya,
and the acquisition of Boeing passenger aircraft by Baraq
Airlines in Libya. Boeing Advocacy also took place during a
recent EXIM Bank and BIS visits.


16. Buraq received its first new Boeing aircraft, a
medium-range airplane 737-800 dubbed "Tripoli" on October 30.
This delivery marked the first brand new commercial aircraft
purchased by any Libyan airline since 1979. A ceremony on the
occasion of its arrival at Tripoli International Airport was
held the evening of October 30, attended by the Charge and
representatives from Boeing, Secretary of Cooperation Affairs at
GPC for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, Secretary
of People's Committee for Civil Aviation Department, the
Director of Tripoli International Airport, the Director of Air
Transport Department and members of the press. A second 737-800
("Benghazi") is due to be delivered on November 15, and a third
is expected in early 2007. Buraq has options to purchase three
more 737-800's, but is considering exchanging the options for
one to purchase a wide body plane.

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CIVIL AVIATION:
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17. In addition to the GPCETI, DepSec Sampson met with Dr.
Mohamed Schlebik, the Director General of the Libyan Civil
Aviation Authority, under the General People's Committee for
Post Transport and Telecommunications (GPCPTT). They discussed
cooperation in air traffic control equipment, runway refinishing
and unification of weather database and tracking systems. In
September 2006, the regional manager for Raytheon in North
Africa visited Dr. Schlebik and is engaging in ongoing
discussions concerning civil aviation product sales to Libya.
The door to the civil aviation market remains open to other U.S.
manufacturers.

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CONFERENCES PROMOTING COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN LIBYA 2006:
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18. The second annual Libyan Aviation Exposition 2006 (LAVEX),
scheduled for December 04-07 2006 in Tripoli's Ma'atiqa Airfield
will provide opportunities for U.S. aerospace manufacturers to
demonstrate U.S. equipment as well as broker introductions
between U.S. manufacturers and Libyan decision makers. More
than 35 Libyan and foreign companies are expected to
participate, including U.S. firms Augusta, Africair and
Raytheon. European defense firms are expected to make a strong
showing at the exhibition, including Airbus, Eurocopter,
Dassault Aviation, Thales, Warner Lewis, Safran, MBDA and
sevaral Russian companies.

In addition, during the same dates, two simultaneous civilian /
commercial expositions will take place in Tripoli:

--Project Libya Energy Exposition: An International Oil, Gas,
Power and Renewable Energy Exhibition Forum sponsored by the GPC
for Industry, Electricity and Mines, National Oil Corporation
and the General Electric Company of Libya (GECOL).

--Project Libya Infrastructure Exhibition: An International
Exhibition and Forum for Libya's Infrastructure sponsored by the
GPC for Planning, the General Board of Infrastructure and Urban
Development, and the Inspector General of Housing and Utilities.

The Project Libya exhibitions are sponsored by Dr. Aisha Muammar
Al-Qadhafi through her Wa'atassemo Foundation (Aisha is the
Daughter of the Libyan Leader Mu'anmmar al-Qadhafi.)
GOLDRICH